Device for the movement of boats by land



United States Patent US. Cl. 193-42 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for assisting in the movement of boats on land, comprising a series of units each comprising a central base plate to which are hingedly connected journals for the roller ends of a pair of divergently directed rollers and two independently movable lateral base plates each of which supports the lower end of a longitudinally extensible upright to the upper end of which is hinged a journal for the upper end of one of said rollers, the independent placing of the lateral base plates and longitudinal extensibility of the uprights supported thereon allowing each of the several units to be independently adapted to the surface of the ground upon which it rests while maintaining the several sets of rollers in position properly to support the boat resting upon them.

The present invention relates to a devic by which smaller boats, like pass boats, rowing boats, jawls etc. may be moved by land, preferably in connection with launching and landing from the sea. 4

In connection with launching and landing of boats in beach areas it is known to arrange rollers beneath the boat keel. Such rollers can be stationary in suitable bearings resting on the ground. Devices of this kind are more or less permanent.

It is the object of the present invention to achieve a device by which boats can be launched as well as landed, and which device is constructed in such a way that it can easily be placed in a suitable location and removed again when the boat has been launched or landed. In other words, devices according to the invention are constructed so as to be portable when out of usage, said devices comprising collapsible or dismountable members. The said device comprises at least three units, each of which coirsists of a collapsible or dismountable support serving as a journaling for two or more rotatable rollers or the like, the rotational axes of which overlap each other, and which support preferably is adjustable in relation to the ground whereupon it rests.

For a better understanding of the invention it will now be described in detail with reference to an embodiment diagrammatically shown in the drawing. However, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the shown and described embodiment, since a large number of modifications are possible Within the scope of the invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrates one of the units which constitutes part of the device according to the invention and is shown in the direction of the longitudinal boat axis. It should be understood, however, that at least two additional units of the same are required to move the boat but, in the interest of clarity, a showing of these additional units has been omitted from FIG. 1 of the drawing. As shown in this embodiment, the unit consists of three base plates serving as ground supports. In central base plate 1 serves as a support for hinges 8, 9 to which are affixed rotatably journaled rollers 10, 11. The

two lateral base plates 2, 3 support the lower ends of substantially vertical uprights 4, 5. Their top ends are 3,435,939 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 provided with hinges 6, 7 for journaling the upper ends of the rollers 10, 11.

It will appear that the two rollers 10, 11 are thus arranged to form a V, wherein a boat 12 can be guided as the rollers 10, 11 rotate along the sides of the boat.

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement in perspective.

At least three units are necessary for a suitable movement of the boat. The boat will then always rest on two units like the one shown in the drawing, while the third unit is moved from the rear of the boat to its foremost end during the transport of the boat.

The base plates 1, 2, 3, as shown in FIG. 2, are preferably of a sufficient length in the longitudinal direction of the boat so that the units will stand relatively steady while the boat is being moved. If desired, the base plates can be made shorter and the uprights 4, 5 may be provided with bar members or the like to be swung out in order to support the units in the longitudinal direction of the boat.

The length of the uprights 4, 5 is preferably adjustable. As shown in the drawings, the uprights comprise a telescopic arrangement including a series of cooperating borings and cotter pins, which cooperate in a known manner. Accordingly, the uprights Will easily compensate for any roughness of the surrounding terrain. A similar compensation is also achieved if the uprights 4 are tilted as indicated at 4' to rest against a ground elevation G. Also, the rollers 10, 11 may, if desired, b coated by a somewhat resilient material, e.g. rubber or plastic.

The rollers 10, 11 of course do not necessarily have to be shaped as circular cylinders. They can have a frustoconical shape and may consist of a suitable number of annular members arranged on rotatably journaled shafts. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can comprise more than one pair of rollers for each unit. The main feature is that the rollers and their ground supports are collapsible or easily dismountable. In this way the entire device can easily be mounted in any desired location and can easily be dismounted and stowed, e.g. in the same car by which the boat can also be transported.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device for the movement of boats on land by rollers on which the boat is resting, comprising at least three units, each of which comprises a collapsible or dismountable support serving as a journaling for two rotatable rollers or the like, the rotational axes of which overlap each other, characterized in that said support consists of a central base plate (1) serving as a hinged (8, 9) journaling for the lower ends of a pair of rollers (10, 11), and two lateral base plates (2, 3) which support the lower end of longitudinally extensible uprights (4, 5), to the upper ends of which journalings for the upper ends of said rollers (10, 11) are hinged (6, 7), the position of which base plates, independently of each other, may be adapted to the ground upon which they rest.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said base plates (1, 2, 3) have a substantial extent in the longitudinal direction of the boat.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the uprights (4, 5) is telescopically extensible.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,141 8/1941 Schofield 193-37 2,735,270 2/1956 Collins 193 35 2,919,793 1/1960 Lorig 198-492 X 3,225,945 12/1965 Yoder 19335 X 3,294,218 12/ 1966 Chantland 198192 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner. 

